FARMERS* UNION PROTESTS AGAINST SUNDAY TOURING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18889, 12 October 1929, Page 7

FARMERS* UNION PROTESTS AGAINST SUNDAY TOURING.

VISIT OF PARTY FROM TASMANIA CAUSES LIVELY DISCUSSION.

There was some lively discussion by the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ U nion at Ashburton yesterday regarding the fact that the Tasmanian farmers would be in Ashburton over a week-end, and would have to tour the county on a Sunday. Mr J. R. Dalton presided over a fair attendance.

The Dominion secretary advised that a party of twenty-seven Tasmanians would make a tour of New Zealand, and would arrive at the Bluff on Sunday. The party would be in Ashburton on Saturday, October 19. The organiser of the party (Mr C. L. Gillies) wrote stating that the visitors would spend Saturday night and Sunday in Ashburton, leaving for Christchurch by the early train on Monday morning. The tour had been. organised primarily to allow the Tasmanian farmers to become acquainted with the principal live stock industries in New Zealand, more particularly the fat lamb industry. The president said it was unfortunate the party would be in Ashburton over a week-end. It had been suggested that they should be entertained on Saturday evening, should visit the Government Experimental Farm on Sunday morning, with a motor tour of the county in the afternoon. Mr H. Wills asked if the party could not be kept in Ashburton till Tuesday morning in view of the fact that they were to spend three days in Christchurch. He did not approve of Sunday ! trips. A protest should be made against such trips.on Sunday. Mr F.. Frampton seconded the protest.

Mr W. Hammond thought those who .did not. vjant farms visited on a Sunday shotfld keep out of it. Mr F. G. Evans agreed with Mr Wills. The tour was a r business affair, and more than one day should be devoted to Ashburton County. The itinerary had been fixed now, but In future the tours should be made to exclude. Sunday touring. Mr,Hammond: You may as well protest against the trips to Otira on Sundays. Mr Evans: No; this is our business. The Otira trip has nothing to do with us.

Mr H. Brown: You should take this in committee. Eighty per cent of the people of Canterbury, do not observe the Sunday. - • s • Voices: Hardly that! Mr Brown: Look at what happened to poor .Mr Archer over his «protest about the Sunday flying, . and all through the matter getting into the papers.

The matter was put to the meeting, and a large majority voted against going into committee on the discussion The motion to protest against Sundays being included in tours was then put, Mr Brown saying that the motion should include a phrase compelling the visitors to go to church on the Sunday.

Mr Wills: Not necessarily. What object to is the touring of visiting parties on Sundays. There was some difficulty regarding the actual wording of the motion. Mr Brown: Let those who protest against this Sunday touring frame the protest. If they can't do it, let it slide.

Mr H. C. B. Withell said the feelings of the visitors had not been taken into account.

Mr Brown: There is no other place in New Zealand where they would kick up such a fuss as there has been here. Finally the following motion was framed:—"That this executive regrets that the visit of the Tasmanian farmers is limited to Sunday only, and considers that the following Monday should have been included in the Ashburton stay." This was moved by Mr G. Tait, seconded by Mr Evans, and carried with one dissentient. Arrangement of an itinerary for the visitors was left in the hands of the secretary (Mr W. H. Amos).